
Next Avenue: The Marine Mammal Center Rescues, Treats and Releases Injured Animals
- Species conservation
- Marine science careers
Volunteers at this California site educate beachgoers, visitors about sea creatures and ocean conservation
Published in Next Avenue (PBS): August 25, 2023
Food shortages. Entanglement in plastic debris or discarded fishing nets. Habitat destruction. Pollution. Wounds from predators' attacks. Toxic chemicals present in the sea. Ship strikes. Harassment by humans. Marine mammals face all these threats, but dedicated volunteers ranging in age from 15 to 92 work for The Marine Mammal Center on teams that rescue and rehabilitate injured animals.
Yes, I want to save a life!

Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/stranded-gray-whale-july-2025.jpg","alt":"stranded gray whale","title":"Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/scientists-respond-to-dead-gray-whale-in-san-francisco-bay-as-species-faces-population-recovery-challenges","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-07-17 02:00:00"}

Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges
July 17, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}

Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}

ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
June 24, 2025
Read Moremarine science careers
Northern Elephant Seal
California Sea Lion
Hawaiian Monk Seal